This afternoon the site disappeared. We know you all missed us horribly, but we weren’t gone for toooo long. Not really.

Thankfully we’re back now – mostly. Sort of.

But there’s lots of things still to fix (the complete lack of any images being one), and we thought that as we’re here anyway, we might as well have a bit of a spruce up while we’re at it.

So bear with us for a few days whilst we retrieve, re-install, re-build and prettify the site – next week will be a slightly shinier, lovelier version, for sure.

And with a lot less swearing too.

We certainly can’t look (or sound) any worse than we did earlier…

So. Where was I? Oh yes, I was smug about how brilliantly we were managing without a car.

Then I was whinging about how bloody awful it was not having a car.

And then Skoda loaned us a car. For six weeks. And it was completely brilliant. But of course it had to go back and I was very brave. My boys, however, were less than impressed. Harry shed a tear, while Joe was furious, shouting “No! NO!” at the poor man who’d obviously drawn the short straw and had to drive it away.

The following day, we set off to go to the shops and Joe said, “Keys?” I reminded him we no longer had a car. “Keys?” he said again. We turned the corner. “Car?” Joe said, plaintively. “Car? Gone?” Harry and I laughed, but we were both thinking the same thing.

It’s been interesting to see how we’ve adjusted. When the car first arrived, I vowed that we wouldn’t be using it all the time – we’d still walk to school, for example. Yeah, that didn’t last. Almost every day we came up with a reason (excuse) to drive. The weather was bad (too cold, too wet, too hot, too windy), I was too busy, too tired, too hungry or I had to go to the post office or the supermarket or just, you know, anywhere. It probably took just over a week for us to give up on the excuses and just admit since we had a car, we were going to use it.

And apparently six weeks is pretty much the perfect amount of time for it to become habit-forming. Because it was hard to adjust to life without it. More than once, I went to grab the keys off the hook before realising… no keys. (Keys? Gone?) We’d run out of milk, I’d think “Oh, I’ll just nip to the shop…” before remembering. (Car? Gone?) Even as recently as last week when we’d been carless (again) for a fortnight, I suggested to David that we drop the boys off at the inlaws’ and then go out for dinner. “Drop them off how?” he asked. And my heart sank. Car. Gone.

–
Keris Stainton

Debut novel DELLA SAYS: OMG! out now
“Confidence-boosty sex-positive first love goodness. This could be the Forever of the 21st century, girls…” - Susie Day, author of Big Woo! and Girl Meets Cake

http://www.twitter.com/keris

http://www.keris-stainton.com

http://www.thebigzeroes.co.uk

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Our very own God(dess) Ben is finally a Daddy! Matilda Rose (such a beautiful name for a most beautiful girl, don’t you think?) was born on 15th April at 2.49pm, weighing 7lb 14oz. You can read Ben’s account of the birth from a new fathers perspective over on Mutterings Of A Fool, but we wanted to share our congratulations to Ben and the Lady of the Manor (48 hours contractions, but only 3hrs active labour, and just gas and air *bows in awe*).

Finding the right fabric and soft furnishings for a child’s bedroom can be quite a challenge. It often happens that I have an idea in my head but just can’t quite make it happen so I’m always happy to find and bookmark a new shop with something a bit different.

Azique not only have a lovely selection of fabrics, especially vintage prints but they also make unique personalised cushions, toy sacks, bunting and many other gifts including christening cushions and tooth pillows. All of Azique’s wares are handmade in England too.

I’ve got my eye on some of these gorgeous cushions (£40) for my boys’ bedrooms…..

We’ve been nominated for the Best MAD Small Business Blog… so we’re going to pimp it. Oh yes we are.

Pleasewouldyounominateusplease?

Today is the last day to nominate so if you like what we do we’d really really like it veryeversomuch if you could possibly take the time to venture over to The MADS  and nominate us for Best Small Business Blog.

The MAD Blog Awards celebrate great British families and their blogs – you have to nominate a ‘best blog’ first (if you’re new to the bloggerverse, and aren’t sure who to nominate, fret not. After the first one, you can choose as many or as few as you like, you don’t need a full complement of 15. Secondly, our own Blog Love page is a great place to look for inspiration), and then you go through to the category nominations. Placing us in the Best Small Business Blog box would be so jolly lovely of you…

Please?

*fluttering eyelashes in best and most winning manner*

Anyhoo. Thank you, whoever nominated us. And thank you, if you’re heading over to nominate now… Mwah

Laura & Katy

x

I know we usually do a Sunday Recipe, but I thought today would be better for this one, as you can beetle out to get the few things you’ll need and make it as the perfect Easter Sunday Dessert. It really is the most amazing thing – and it’s funny, I didn’t make pavlova for years because I thought it was really hard and complicated. Not so! It’s dead easy. And universally popular – everyone always comes back for seconds, there really won’t be any leftovers.

Serves a family of 8 two moderate helpings each.

How long it will take:
20 minutes prep,
1hr baking,
10 minutes construction

What You Need:

For the Meringue:
4 medium egg whites
225g (8oz) caster sugar (I’ve used granulated before with no bad effects)
5ml (1tsp) Cornflour
2.5ml (1/2 tsp) White Wine Vinegar (I use any wine vinegar in the cupboard, red or white)
2.5ml (1/2 tsp) vanilla essence

Simple Topping:
Your choice of soft fruit – we LOVE raspberries and blueberries. But straight strawberries are good, as is a tropical topping with kiwi, banana and mango. The choice is yours: Three punnets of soft fruit is needed.
600ml Double Cream

What you Do:

1. Preheat the oven to 150ºC / 140ºC fan / 300ºF / GM 2.
2. Line a large baking sheet with baking parchment, and draw round a dinner plate (20cm-ish circle) in the centre of the paper. Turn the paper over so the marking is underneath and won’t transfer to the meringue! (NB – I have used foil in a baking-paper-less crisis, and it worked just fine)
3. Place the egg whites in a clean, grease-free bowl and whisk them until stiff and dry.
4. Add the sugar, a spoon at a time, whisking until the mixture is smooth, glossy and holds stiff peaks.
5. Gently fold in the cornflour, vinegar and vanilla with a large metal spoon.
6. Spoon the mixture onto the parchment. With the back of the metal spoon, spread it to just within the circle, making decorative swirls, leaving a shallow dip in the centre.
7. Bake for 1hr until the meringue base and sides are crisp. Leave to cool on a cake rack – cracking is totally normal as it cools.
8. Whilst it is cooking prep your topping; for the simple version, just whip your cream until it is nice and stiff, and chop any large fruit into bite size pieces.
9. Place the pavlova on a large serving plate and scatter with a couple of handfuls of your fruit.
10. Spoon the cream into the dip in the centre, spreading thickly and evenly almost to the edge
11. Arrange the rest of your fruits on top (I find topping it a fab job for small helpers)
12. Nom nom nom.

Alternative Special Topping:
Choice of soft fruit as before
25g (1oz) caster sugar
6 sprigs fresh mint
2 cinnamon sticks, halved
juice from 1 orange
450ml (16fl oz) Double Cream
150ml (5fl oz) Greek Yogurt

• For the Special Topping – Remove all stalks from fruit, halve/quarter any strawberries and place all in a large bowl together.
• Mix in the sugar, 3 minute sprigs, cinnamon sticks and orange juice
• Leave to stand for 2 hrs to infuse.
• Just before eating, whisk the cream until soft peaks form. Fold in the yogurt, and the mixture will thicken into stiff peaks.
• Add cream to the pavlova base as usual
• Drain the fruits (reserve the juice in a serving jug), discarding the mint leaves and cinnamon sticks.
• Spoon the fruit mixture over the cream mix
• As you serve, spoon a little juice over the fruit, and sprinkle with the remaining mint leaves.
• Serve with the reserved fruit juice.

Crikey, sunshine AND the school holidays? It’s a wonder anything at all has been achieved this week. But a little bit has – and we’re actually quite glad we’re late with the Blog Love round up, as there’s been some last minute fab entries to include (we’re not the only ones with better things to do than sit at a computer screen, we know).

So: here’s your pick of the best posts around the blogosphere this week. Do have a browse with a coffee, and be sure to leave a comment and say hello.

First up was an anonymous nomination (please leave us your name so we can link to you! Even if it’s your own blog, we really don’t mind, we’re here to share the Lurve y’know) for Transatlantic Blonde’s post about an image which has whipped up a mini furore in the US. Shockingly, it’s a boy in pink nail varnish, no less. *shakes head*

Next, Windmill Tales told us about Bod for Tears letter to her daughter, which brought tears to her eyes. It’s simply called ‘Don’t’ and it’s wonderful. PLEASE go and read it.

PantsWithNames really enjoyed Hot Cross Mums ‘Life Cycle of a Blog’ - and she’s so right, it’s clever, VERY true and an excellent read.

Kelly pointed us to a really great post by fellow Goddess Christine, where she and her daughter create a village for the Little People. Craft blogs often simply leave me feeling inadequate, but this looks like SO much fun, and the results are SO charming I can’t resist trying it myself…

For my own recommendation, I wanted to swoosh some Blog love to Mammy Woo, who has been struggling with Depression. This Time Next Year is a positive, thought-provoking post from one of my favourite Bloggers at the moment.

Lastly, Imperfect Pages threw in a last minute offering via Twitter – she wanted to make sure more people read this post by Wanderlust – a new blog to me, one I’m so glad I found, and one I will be following from now on. ‘Blood Red Life’ is an incredibly powerful, moving account of one woman’s struggle.

I know. I know. £120 for a scooter? Yuh. Ri-i-ight. I thought that too.

Back in the day.

Befiore I had three boys.

One of whom does scootering like some boys do skateboarding.

When Razor asked if we’d like to try out the new Black Label Ultra Pro I didn’t even bother asking Boy-Who-Scoots. I just said yes please. And handed it over.

He did actually squeak rather a lot when he saw the box. And was actually without words as he grappled with the enormous box to get his hands on it.

Oh the joy.

I’ll let the 9 yr old tell you about it first:

“it can take whatever you throw at it” is what the label said and I have to agree this is the most amazing scooter I have ever ridden. I will start off by talking about its weight. With my old razor scooter I was struggling to do some tricks because it was too heavy. This scooter however is perfect for the job, it is lightweight and rugged and can “take whatever you throw at it” my older brother demonstrated that by putting it through a rigourous crash course. He had some nice bruises but not a scratch or dent on the scooter thank goodness. And on top of that the ride is just simply amazin you feel hardly like you are scootering more gliding. Also, this scooter is not only great to ride but it looks just “cool”. I mean just look at it you cant get much cooler than that. Every single detail is just perfect from the looks to how smooth the ride is from the grips to how easily it folds honestly it’s juts totally wicked. This is without a doubt an amazing scooter and is probably one of the only toys I will never grow out of.”

He quite likes it…

I have to admit, I had a go. In the aid of research of course. Whilst he hovered nervously and told me to be careful. Of the scooter, naturally.

And I had to agree with him – it’s light, manoeuverable, easy to handle and the ride is silky smooth gliding. When your small person grows out of those first kickalong scooters, when they want to master a Bunny Hop with a Bar Spin (get me!), and the smaller younger versions just aren’t cutting it at the skate park, you just need something a little more serious. Razor is the brand to buy, and the Black Label Ultra Pro Lo is the one to wish for if you’re 9. Or 12, according to his envious big brother.

And that £120 price tag? No more than a Nintendo DS. But this toy gets them outside, in the fresh air, doing ‘stuff’ from before breakfast till you have to drag them inside to throw them in the bath. Like Boy said. It’s wicked.

You can get your own hands on a Razor Black Label Ultra Pro Lo Scooter right here on the Razor UK web site. If the Ultra Pro is more than you’re looking for there’s lots of different sizes and age ranges (this one is for 8+).

Our competition to give away a kub ECO cot bed to one lucky winner closes tomorrow.

Makers of very fine nursery furniture, kub, are proud to present their Eco-friendly nursery furniture, the first nursery furniture range by kub to be accredited by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council).

The new ECO range by kub literally doesn’t cost the earth as you can be assured that the wood has been responsibly sourced and accredited according to the rules of the FSC, which is an international non-governmental body that promotes the responsible management of the world’s forests.

A friend visited the Science Museum in London this week for her youngest son’s 5th birthday and this is what she said about their day out;

“The children loved it, we went for Isaac’s 5th birthday treat, and he loved every minute, from watching Hubble in the 3d iMax theatre, flying with the red arrows to making a hydrogen rocket, it was awesome.

The children ( and us! ) had a fabulous day, give your self plenty of time though, there is stacks to do!”

You can’t get a better endorsement then that!

Entry to the Science Museum in London is free and many of the fantastic exhibits are also free. The IMAX cinema does cost (prices can been found here) but they have a special deal which allows you to watch a second movie for half price. You may struggle to choose which ones to watch, here’s a run down of what’s currently on;

Hubble 3D at the IMAX 3D Cinema (U) – Journey through distant galaxies and explore the mysteries of the universe on this mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Using incredible 3D technology you can accompany space-walking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history, and experience never-before-seen 3D flights through awe-inspiring Hubble imagery. Narrated by Leonardo Di Caprio.

Wild Ocean 3D at the IMAX 3D Cinema (U) – An inspirational IMAX film exploring the relationship between man and the endangered ocean ecosystem. Filmed off the Wild Coast of South Africa and the KwaZulu-Natal Coast, this spectacular underwater adventure takes viewers on a journey of discovery, seeing how fish have provided a source of food for local people for countless generations. Watch one of nature’s greatest migration spectacles – an underwater feeding frenzy and epic struggle for survival where whales, sharks, dolphins, seals, gannets and billions of fish collide with the most voracious sea predator, mankind. The film has been nominated for several awards and won the 2009 Earthwatch film of the year.

Deep Sea 3D at the IMAX 3D Cinema (PG) – An underwater adventure where audiences will be transported below the ocean surface to swim with some of the planet’s most unique and colourful creatures, from the unusual Wolf Eel to the incredible Giant Pacific Octopus, and witness their remarkable behaviour as they rely on one another for survival. Viewers will be able to float with jellyfish, reach out to touch sea turtles and dodge the tentacles of an octopus without ever leaving their seats! Directed by world-renowned underwater cinematographer, Howard Hall, and produced by Toni Myers and Michele Hall, Deep Sea 3D is narrated by Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet, and is accompanied by an original score by Danny Elfman.

Fly Me to the Moon 3D at the IMAX 3D Cinema (U) – An animated space spectacular featuring the voices of Christopher Lloyd, Tim Curry and Nicollette Sheridan; an exciting tale of brave young housefly Nat and his two best friends, Scooter and IQ, who sneak on board the Apollo 11 spaceship mission to embark on a cosmic adventure. The film also features an appearance by Buzz Aldrin himself. Young viewers will be introduced to space exploration and the historic moment when the world was united to observe man land on the moon.

Once again, this is simply your chance to spread some Blog Love. No Linky, no Hop, no rules. We just want you to share some Blog Love – and tell the rest of us about a fabulous post you’ve read this week.

Leave a comment here telling us about a blog post which has touched you in the last week. Maybe it made you laugh, brought a lump to your throat, gave you instructions for something you intend to try out – or simply made you nod furiously in agreement. We don’t mind – there is no theme, we’re just looking for those posts which are worth talking about.

Simply leave a comment with a link to the post, and a quick line about why. Leave as many as you like (if you can do one comment per link that would make rounding them up a bit easier pleasethankyou). Oh, and self-pimping is totally allowed… but we’re reserving editors rights on those self-nominations.

On Thursday we’ll do a Blog Love round up, and send some Blog Love out to all the posts YOU think are worth it.

*pauses a while for you to just gaze appreciatively*

Lovely, isn’t it? Exactly what a sunshiney day was waiting for. And it’s not a modern repro that’s looks charmingly vintage with shabby pins holding it together. Oh no. This is a real Gen-Yoo-Wine spent-it’s-fair-share-of-days-in-the-garden-and-on-the-beach original.

You can’t buy them in sets or even pairs – it’s a case of taking what is available. But you can choose which vintage deckchair stripes to cover it in.

Flippin’ Gorgeous.

The Who am I? free exhibit at the Science Museum in London  presents the latest in brain science and genetics through a mixture of interactive exhibits and object-rich displays. What makes you, you? How do your genes impact on your brain, your actions, your thoughts and your appearance?

Visitors to the gallery will get the chance to explore answers to these questions and more by encountering striking object displays and contemporary artworks.

Yet another fabulous and free thing to do at the Science Museum!

I saw this on the BBC Breakfast news this morning and my first thought was how beautiful it is, my second thought was “what IS it?!”.

The Midsummer Chronophage Clock is one of two clocks in the world to show the experience of relative time. Developed by British inventor Dr John C Taylor, the clock is inspired by the idea that everyone experiences time differently.

Walking atop the 1.5 metre golden clock face is a large kinetic sculpture of a mythical beast which appears to devour time. The clock face was created by a series of underwater explosions and the hour is tolled by the sound of a chain clanking into a small wooden coffin concealed in the back of the clock to remind us that our time on earth is limited. The 3.3 metre high clock took more than two years to make and over a hundred people including artists, engineers, scientists, jewellers and calligraphers were involved in the process.

Wow.

It is just one of those things that you really, truly have to go and see in the flesh to truly appreciate.

The Midsummer Chronophage Clock exhibition at the Science Museum in London is free and opened on 18th April 2011 and runs until the end of October 2011.

Did you know that the Science Museum in London has a lot of free exhibits over the Easter school holidays? No, I didn’t either until they got in touch and told us!

This Easter, the Science Museum is opening a host of new exhibitions and displays and bringing its galleries to life with spectacular, and sometimes explosive, live science shows.

The Museum is perfect for an Easter day out in which you can entertain adults and children alike with exhibitions, events and films, all under one roof. Catch a 3D movie, jump on a simulator, visit an exhibition, and encounter the past, present and future of technology in seven floors of galleries.

I can’t think of a better day out then a train ride to London and a wander around the Science Museum seeing stuff that makes my children’s jaws drop.

Spend the whole day there, eat lunch – they have a picnic area if you bring your own or there is the Revolution Cafe and the Deep Blue family restaurant (further info here) – buy a groovy gadget from the shop then head home with smiles, a snippet of new science knowledge and happy memories!

We’ll be doing a series of posts this week and about some of the awesome new exhibits and displays to be found at the Science Museum so keep reading (if you’re the impatient sort and just can’t wait then visit the Science Museum website here now).

Oh. Gorgeous. So perfect. I have one of those big square wicker hampers for picnics. Which is truly wonderful. But when you’re picnicking at any distance from the car, they’re HEAVY to lug. And awkward. And full of sharp pointy corners.

When it’s just a few rolls, some apples and a bottle of something delicious for the two of you, how about looping this little woven basket (from water hyacinth! How lovely?) over your arm as you skip through the daisies?

Practical AND pretty. Just the way we like things.

A lifetime of happy picnics will cost you £50 from John Lewis

The new Blog Love is proving really popular – we are very aware that an awful lot of our readers are not actually bloggers, and as such not only don’t get the whole linky/blog hop thing, but also really could do with a bit of an introduction into the world of blogging.

So instead we’re just asking bloggers  to simply leave us a comment with a link to a noteworthy post someone else has written. Every Thursday we’ll do a round up, and spread a little Blog Love around. So yesterday we did a call out, here’s the mad array of responses…

First off the mark was our very own Goddess Kelly with a wonderful new find for me – Whoopee has just been added to my own reader, and I bet after you’ve read the Tweed Run Highlights (Ewan McGregor!!) she’ll be in yours too.

Next the lovely Tim from Bringing Up Charlie pointed us to Deer Baby, and her thoughtfully intelligent and challenging post on Lifecycles

Domestic Goddesque decided a little self-pimping was in order… I clicked, I read, I agreed, and so here it is. Her heart-aching thoughts to her husband on If Tomorrow Never Comes.

Heather from Note From Lapland also pointed us to herself, and a remarkable contest on her blog this week. Not just content with giving away a signed copy of The Darkest Corner, you also get to ask the author a question too. *flaps hands in shoo-ing manner* Go! Ask!

Finally, Cathy from the Nurture Store has pointed us her own way to a free eBook for you to download, jam packed with ideas for crafts and activities during the holidays. So go download for some inspiration – you shall gain shiny Mumma points of you do at least one activity with your small people.

Oh, and Goddess Emily snuck in a latecomer which was too important to miss – Plan B’s post marking Parkinson’s Awareness week with a rather extraordinary and deeply personal story about her father.

Our competition to give away 10 copies of Lane Smith’s It’s A Book closes tomorrow.

A wry exchange between an IT-savvy donkey, a book-loving ape and a mouse forms this playful and lighthearted examination of print as a medium in the digital age. With a subversive and signature Lane Smith twist, this satisfying, perfectly executed picture book has something to say about the importance of reading to children and adults alike. The recommended age range for ‘It’s a Book’ is 3+.

Click here for further details and entry form.

Spin Collective Wall Stickers are just gorgeous and they have just recently launched a wonderful selection of colourful stickers that are just perfect for a child’s bedroom. You could use their colour wall stickers to brighten any room or wall with the minimum of hassle. Perfect as a gift / present for a unique style that will last as long as it’s needed to (until the next phase of course!).

I keep meandering over to Aspace, you know,  just-for-a-little-look. And keep getting a little bit fluttery about something.

Look at this gorgeous cheetah I spotted (spotted! I’m so funny!) – what a brilliant way to liven up a plain wall. Lots of fun, but not at all baby-ish, perfect for those middle-aged not-very-small children.

And.

And and AND…

There’s 10% off everything on the site at the moment!

Go, find your own little “ooh!” of happy.

I guarantee there’ll be one.

OFFER: 10% Discount

CODE: RWX1D2W

EXPIRES: not sure